„Roadpath to a good product“ in Sombor

One-day seminar entitled „Roadpath to a good product“ was held within the project „Preservation and Revitalization of stapar rug-making“ implemented by the City of Sombor in partnership with Ethno Network with the support of the Australian Embassy in Serbia and the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED). The seminar was attended by interested individual producers of handicrafts from Sombor and representatives of Ethno Network, City Museum, the cooperative „Lady’s heart“ from Pirot and the City of Sombor. The opening speech was given by Iva Radic, Manager of Ethno Network who presented the agenda of the seminar, as well as attendees and speakers.

During the introductory lecture, Sofija Arsic, associate of Ethno Network, spoke about ways of making good and quality handicrafts and the possibilities of placement of hand-made rugs on the market. Seminar participants were presented some of the Ethno Network products as a good model, such as traditional Serbian towel, five-needle knit socks, felted mats etc.

Ljubica Bacic, a representative of the City Museum of Sombor presented the historical facts relating to the rug-making in Sombor and Stapar and emphasized the importance of a blend of traditional and modern in the making of rugs and noted the importance of the role of museums and ethnologists in the preservation and promotion of ideas and motifs that are characteristic of hand-made rugs. Ru-making in our region dates from the early sixteenth century when it was brought to our country by the Turks. The rug was a status symbol and no girl could not marry until they learn to weave, and can take a hand-made rug that they wove by themselves, as a part of their dowry. Currently, in the City Museum of Sombor there are 149 rugs, oldest of which date back to the early twentieth century.

In the second part of the seminar, Slavica Ciric, president of the cooperative for the rug making „Lady’s heart“from Pirot, presented the experience and best practices developed by the<